A husband and wife who owned a restaurant in Myingyan, Mandalay Region were shot and killed by unidentified gunmen on Tuesday morning.
Kaung Myat Thu, 30, and Wut Yee, whose exact age was not known at the time of reporting, owned the Bombay Indian Restaurant and a convenience store. They are survived by two sons, aged seven and two.
They were shot while riding on a motorcycle on the Mandalay-Myingyan highway just outside of Myingyan at around 11am.
The motive for their murder was unknown, but eyewitnesses said that it was perpetrated by a group of people.
Locals speculate that the Pyu Saw Htee, a shadowy group that has surfaced since the coup to counter the anti-junta resistance movement, may have been responsible for the couple’s death.
Myanmar Now was unable to independently verify these allegations.
After several military informants were assassinated nationwide, including in Myingyan, the Pyu Saw Htee claimed on their Facebook pages they would be protecting these informants.
The Pyu Saw Htee reportedly put out an online “hit list” for Myingyan in late June with 38 names, including people who were vocal about their opposition to the coup, as well as known members and supporters of the National League for Democracy (NLD) party.
A Myingyan resident who had seen the list told Myanmar Now that neither Kaung Myat Thu nor Wut Yee were included.
“They weren’t even that politically active. They just posted some things here and there,” the resident said, referring to the victims’ social media, adding that they may have been targeted in order to scare others.
Kaung Myat Thu’s Facebook page, which was seen by Myanmar Now, included occasional posts expressing opposition to the coup, condemnation of the military leadership, and support for the NLD.
He also performed as a magician at children’s events under the name Myaing Yarzar, and was a contestant in the well-known TV show Myanmar’s Got Talent.
Another local speculated that the murder was “personal,” but still believed Pyu Saw Htee was involved.
“[Kaung Myat Thu] didn’t do anything big enough to be killed like this. There are so many others who have done a lot more than him,” the local said.
On July 2, another couple who were both executive members of the NLD’s Myingyan chapter were assassinated.
Moe Hein, a teacher, and his wife Su Su Hlaing were killed in their yard. Witnesses said they heard the gunmen yell, “This is Pyu Saw Htee!” before shooting them.
